Cloud whitepaper

Hybrid-cloud technology in Feed
formulation software systems

Feed formulas management and
optimization is a challenge facing many
feed production companies as customer
number and requirements increase, as
variability and availability of ingredients
reaches highest level and as competitive
market pushes profit driven operations to
the pedestal. Details in the formula,
number of formulas, number of
ingredients, variable ingredient prices,
variability and availability of ingredients,
complex constraints, decision making
buy/not buy, production plans etc. all of
those are services which must be
provided by modern Feed formulation
system.

Cloud computing comes into focus in
recent years as it brings a new way of
software systems organization,
deployment and support. Basically, cloud
based software gives the opportunity for
the company to outsource software and
hardware that will allow maintenance
efforts to decrease and focus on core
production. No software, no hardware –
no worries, is the motto of new age cloud
based software. This is why it is usually
provided as software-as-a-service, with
monthly or yearly support. In the
nutshell, the software provider is
responsible for hardware and software
maintenance because the software is
actually run and the data is actually
stored in the software provider’s
datacenter. User only has client software
(thin client or shell client), which is
installed to access data and run calculations. Main benefits of cloud
computing are:

• Increase volume output or productivity
with fewer people – there is no
maintenance of software or hardware

• Reduce spending on technology
infrastructure – it is a responsibility of
software provider

• Globalization – data can be access from
anywhere with Internet access

• Speed up business – there is no need
for manual data sharing or slow
communication – there is one datacenter
which is used by all personnel

• Improve fault tolerance – there is no
possibility of hardware failure which can
stop production

• Improve scalability – add more licenses
or service as you go

There are some cases when traditional
systems are better. Cloud based systems
are dependent on Internet connection, so for rural areas and for areas with unreliable
Internet connection traditional
systems where software is installed on
single computer (or computers) are more
suitable.

Although cloud based systems are very
safe and that any data sensitivity can be
arranged with confidentiality agreement,
there are companies that find their data
extremely confidential or have own
datacenters so they want to have whole
system on their premise.

To create one solution to suit all needs
and allow companies to experience
systems which will best suit their
business process AFOS has created
hybrid-cloud technology for feed formulation
software systems.

Hybrid – cloud technology

Hybrid-cloud technology is AFOS
software implementation of traditional
and cloud software architecture in one
suite. This technology allows AFOS to be
run in the cloud, in the company
datacenter and on single workstation in
the same time or completely separately.
This technology covers three main
scenarios of modern software usage:

1. Single, standalone software – both
software and database are installed on
single workstation. Software is not
dependent on communication infrastructure
and data is only stored in local database. Data can be exchanged with
other users manually. Individuals and
rural users mostly use this.

2. Cloud software – calculation service
and database are installed on cloud infrastructure
while thin client for accessing
system is installed on client workstations.
Software is dependent on an Internet
communication infrastructure and data is
stored in cloud database. This type of
software is targeted for large and
geographically diverse companies where
multiple users are working on same
database in the same time.

3. Private Datacenter software - calculation
service and database are installed on
company datacenter and client for accessing
system is installed on all client workstations.
Software is dependent on
company communication infrastructure
and data is stored in company datacenter
database. This type of software is aimed
for companies who have strong IT/OT
infrastructure and department and want
to take control of system hardware,
software and maintenance.

Additionally, AFOS hybrid technology
allows combination of proposed
scenarios. For example, single user might
be part of cloud software team but also, in
the same time, can have local database.
This is very suitable for traveling consultants
who are part of bigger teams because
they can work in the cloud, while
connected to the Internet, and when
Internet connection is not available, they
can use local database that can be
synchronized with cloud later.

Schematically, system architecture is
showed on next figure.

Figure 1 - Cloud system schematic
architecture

In the center of the system is cloud
database. Around database is Calculation
and data access layer, which determines
access rights (who can see what, and who
can run which action) and is used as
primary point of communication with
client applications. Client application can
be run on various devices, workstation
PCs, laptops, tablets or smartphones.
Additionally, workstations and laptops
have possibility to instant local database
that can be synchronized with cloud
database and used in offline mode. Some
of the devices can be used only in
read-only regime while other can be used
for full database management and for
running calculation. This is can be
configured in the CDAL (calculation and
data access layer) and is the responsibility
of system administrator.

Figure 2 – main AFOS screen

CDAL can define comprehensive set of
rules inside organization. Rules can be
organized in geographical and/or
technological sense and can be grouped in
so called Areas of responsibility. For
example rules can be “User A can use
tablet in order to only see in read only
mode poultry formulas in North America
based plants” or “User B will use PC to
manage ruminant formulas and
ingredients in Europe based plants”.

Hybrid cloud is bringing scalability to the
whole new level. Without any investment
in hardware, any system downtime and
without any data loss user can grow from
single, standalone user to multinational
user group disperse over the globe.

Figure 3 – Advanced batch optimization

AFOS is next generation feed formulation
system developed on new age cloud
infrastructure using latest software
technologies and database. This creates
unique user-friendly environment,
reliable and fast calculation engine and
scalability that can be easily adapted to
specific customer business process.